Now, here’s a countdown from No. 10 to No. 1, but, remember: Gaudy stats are impossible to ignore, but the situation and the importance of the game are factored into the equation.

WEEK 3 GAME BALLS

(Recipients are from schools in the coverage area—Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties; they are selected from statistics reported to The Journal News/lohud.com)

Honorable mention:Jake Sevean returned a kickoff (90 yards) and a punt (55) for scores and added a rushing TD (35) in the first half of Rye Neck’s 42-0 win over visiting Haldane. … Kenny Diaz had 17 carries for 102 yards and the game-winning TD as Nyack beat Port Chester 12-7. … Dan Grieco of Westlake caught a pair of touchdowns and contributed nine tackles as his team downed Edgemont 21-7. … Dante Ellis had 144 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns on just seven touches as Sleepy Hollow topped Byram Hills 26-7. … Pelham’s Jack Woods had 160 yards and two TDs rushing in a 40-0 win over Yonkers. … Andrew Livingston threw four touchdowns in Rye’s 35-0 win at Lincoln in a matchup of 2-0 teams. … A.J. Tarricone rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries, including a 59-yard run, as Hastings beat Yonkers Montessori 34-19.

10. Danny Skluth, John Jay: Skluth anchored a 386-yard, six-TD rushing day with 17 carries for 191 yards and three scores in John Jay’s dominant 41-13 victory against visiting Brewster.

9. Anthony Gallucci, Eastchester: The QB/DB threw two touchdowns, rushed for another and stripped and returned a fumble 99 yards for a fourth scored in Eastchester’s 33-0 win over visiting Gorton.

8. Shawn Celestin and John Verwoert, Nanuet: The two defensive ends each had a sack, and their pressure helped force four interceptions in a 9-6 defeat of previously unbeaten Pleasantville.

7. Jeremy Altamuro and Ryan Knox, Harrison: The two-way linemen were typically stout as the Huskies limited 2-0 Tappan Zee to 103 yards of offense in a 21-0 shutout.

6. Tommy Frost and Tim McCauley, Panas: I usually don’t share these honors, but how can you separate these two? They led a ball-hawking effort by the Panas D, picking off three passes each in a 28-14 win at Pearl River.

5. Solomon White, Ossining: The senior scored two touchdowns (one on the ground) and provided arguably the biggest play in Ossining’s dramatic 38-34 win at Poughkeepsie. After the Pioneers took the lead for the first time, White responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for the go-ahead score.

4. Rojay McDonald, Ramapo: Just three days after providing the winning score to beat Clarkstown South, McDonald rushed 26 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception on defense as the Gryphons stymied Mamaroneck in the 12-0 shutout.

3. Bronxville defense: Led by linebackers James McDermott (11 tackles) and Parker Lapins (nine), the Broncos kept high-scoring Woodlands out of the end zone until the fourth quarter and then stood strong to stop a two-point conversion and secure a 7-6 victory over the defending Class C champs.

2. James Nicholas, Scarsdale: On a day defined by the play of the Raider defense, this two-way starter also delivered the two key offensive plays of the game. He opened the 14-7 upset of New Rochelle with an 80-yard kickoff return for a score and later added another TD on the ground.

1. Marshon Morris, White Plains: It was tough to even pick one player from White Plains, but it was the athleticism and leaping ability of Morris that made arguably the two biggest plays of a great, great game. He caught a streaking 71-yard touchdown with 3:16 to go and then leaped to snare a 17-yard score with just 24 seconds to play, capping White Plains’ 29-27 comeback win—the largest in the program’s 117-year history—at Mahopac.

JOSH THOMSON joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in March 2003 and has covered high school football, basketball, baseball and pro and college sports ever since. He graduated in 1998 from Carmel High School and in 2002 from Boston University with a degree in communications. Josh spends the majority of his free time with his wife and two daughters.

I was wondering the same thing last week as the Ossining QB had better stats than the RB from New Rochelle. The RB from New Rochelle was ranked #1. I believe the Game Ball is not only based on stats, but how a player took over a game. I hope I’m making sense because I’m not sure if I even understand what I’m writing. Need coffee now!

Great to read about and discuss these players’ exploits, but, guys, these “game balls” exist only in cyberspace…the “order” doesn’t matter…just a good way for Josh and staff to share thoughts and keep us involved…anyway, stats run up v. smaller/Yonkers teams should be kept in perspective…what I want to know is, how can Brewster give up nearly 400 yards on ground to John Jay?...in 12-minute quarters!...kudos to Frost, McCauley, Panas…big game this Friday at LHS…enjoy the games!